Dundee United chairman wants manager-referee summit
Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson says that he wants all of the clubs in the Scottish football league system and the country's referees to hold a summit and discuss the issues that officials are dealing with.
Category one referees have voted to withdraw labour for the weekend of 27-28 November, throwing a full card of Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League fixtures into doubt.
The Scottish Football Association says it may bring in referees from abroad to officiate as many games as possible, but if the dispute is not resolved by the SFA's deadline of Thursday 25 November, many of the scheduled games are likely to be called off.
The referees have decided to go on strike in protest against criticism levied at them by players, managers and clubs, while they also have fears for their personal safety.
As a result, Thompson has urged all parties to get together and move towards a greater respect and understanding for each other to avoid putting off would-be referees from taking up a career in officiating.
He told The Daily Record, "There needs to be a proper discussion between the top referees and managers. They should get around the table again and let everyone air their views and try to move on. We need each other. The important thing now is that
we get games played. Without referees we don't have a game.
"This is driving referees away from the game. That's a bigger problem long term: why should anybody come into the game? Why should a kid take up refereeing? We're going to end up with a problem five, ten years from now."
United are scheduled to face defending champions and SPL leaders Rangers at home on Sunday 28 November in a live televised game, but should the match be cancelled, the 2010 Scottish Cup winners could possibly miss out on their TV appearance fee.
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